Quantum Nucleation.

Quantum Corrections to Nucleation Rates

In this paper we show how to compute in a consistent way nucleation rates in field theory at finite temperatures, with metastable vacuum. Using the semiclassical approach in field theory at finite temperature we show that the prefactor term can be calculated explicitly (in the thin-wall approximation) and that the same provides exponential finite temperature quantum corrections to nucleation ra...

Quantum and Thermal Nucleation I N Polydiacetylene

Quantum nucleation in a single-chain magnet.

The field sweep rate (upsilon = dH/dt) and temperature (T) dependence of the magnetization reversal of a single-chain magnet is studied at low temperatures. As expected for a thermally activated process, the nucleation field (H(n)) increases with decreasing T and increasing upsilon. The set of H(n)(T,upsilon) data is analyzed with a model of thermally activated nucleation of magnetization rever...

Quantum nucleation of vortex string loops.

We investigate quantum nucleation of vortex string loops in the relativistic quantum field theory of a complex scalar field by using the Euclidean path integral. Our initial metastable homogeneous field configurations carry a spacelike current. The path integral is dominated by the O(3) symmetric bounce solution. The nucleation rate and the critical vortex loop size are obtained approximately. ...

Self-assembling quantum dot lattices through nucleation site engineering

The long range ordering of epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots is investigated using several crystal growth techniques on prepatterned substrates. We have developed two nucleation site control techniques: one which uses localized surface chemical potential engineering and one which uses localized surface strain engineering. We present experimental results that demonstrate the ability to create...